Lighter



J. GALTER June 15, 1937.

LIGHTER FledFeb. 10, 1936 ck ZZLez Patented June 15, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENTgoFFlcE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to lighters for cigarettes, cigars, and the like, and has particularly reference to the pyrophoric type of lighters. As is Well known, such lighters comprise a pyrophoric 5 material of well known composition coacting with a hard material having a rough surface to generate sparks and a torch of suitable material having an inflammable liquid absorbed thereon. The subject matter of this invention, while of general application, has particular reference to a table type of lighter with a separate removable torch.

It is well known that such table lighters are often idly handled during conversation and may ignite at inopportune or undesired occasions. It

is an object of this invention to design a lighter which requires deliberate and separate setting and releasing impulses.

It is another object to provide a lighter with energy storing mechanism in which the energy to be stored is supplied at one time and wherein the energy releasing impulse is supplied at another time.

A further object is to devise a lighter which is the energy stored may be supplied during the torch snufling movement and wherein the energy may be released at any later time desired by a '.quick, simple and light impulse.

A further object is to device a lighter which is mechanically simple, susceptible to cheap and easy manufacture, is sturdy and rugged. .f

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that various changes in the form, propor- .tion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose oi facilitating an understand- ,ing of my invention, I have illustrated in the ac- -companying drawing, a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which when considered inconnection with the following description, myA invention, its'mode of construction assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appre- 5o Ciated.

l -Figure 1 is a side view of a lighter in its case;

'tube2l is adaptedvto project into a recess 25 in the casing bottom 6 and the entire lighter lassembly with the top` plate I2 is maintained in Vthreaded end of the tube 2 I A suitable aperture Fig. 2 is a side View of the lighter with the casing cut away to expose the mechanism, in its set position; f

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 2 showing the spark producing mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a sectional front view along line 4 4 Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail along line 5--5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a detailof the spark producing wheel.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 particularly, the lighter is supported on a base I of sheet metal with a bent over flange 2 forming a border. This base is preferably provided with recessed bosses 3 into which are tted rubber pads 4 adapted to sup-port the entire structure.

Carried on the base I is a casing of any suitable material, such as a moulded phenol condensate or die cast metal finished to any desired contour and color. Casing 5 is rigidly supported with respect to the base I by a pair of screws 6 passing through suitable apertures in the base I and engaging 20 tapped recesses in the relatively massive bottom.

A partition 'I of sheet metal supported on a ledge 8 on the inner casing surface is adapted to separate the casing interior into an upper mechanism storage compartment I0 and a lower compartment 25 I I. A top plate I2 from which the entire lighter mechanism proper depends fits the recessed top ledge I3 of casing 5. A small detachable housing I4 is provided to cover the sparking wheel assembly to present a finished appearance. 30

The bottom compartment Il has moulded Vtherein a hollow sleeve 2l] which is adapted to give access to compartment I0 from the bottom of casing 5. Rigidly depending from the top coverL plate I2 is a metallic tube 2| having a pyrophoric cylindrical member 22 resiliently urged upwardly by a coil spring 23 whose compression maybe adjusted by a bottom thrust screw 24 co-operating with-the inside threaded surface of tube 2 I. The

position inthe casing 5 by a nut 2B engaging the 21 in the base I gives ready access to screws 24 5 "and nut 26. In order to prevent the nut 26 from pulling the top plate I2 down out of shape because of excessive turning, .a flange 30 is preferably provided around tube 2l and bears against a free resilient eyelet 3l disposed around the tube 2l below the flange. By properly disposing the flang 3D, the'mechanism mayl be bolted.y tightly without straining the thin top I2.

Rigidly supported by the top plate I2 is a U- shaped resilient sheet metal bearing member 33 between whose arms is supported a spark producing wheel 34 of the usual serrated or rough surface and carried by a pin 35 rotatably mounted in the arms of the member 33. As is well known, pyrophoric element 22 is spring pressed against the Wheel 34 so that upon rotation of the wheel sparks are produce.

A yoke 38 having arms 39 disposed on the outside of the armsof the member 33 is rotatively carried by the ends of the pin 35. A spring member 48 having an ear 4| through which pin 63 passes is disposed at the side of wheel 34.

The spring 48 has a tongue 42 tending to press against the side 43 of the wheel 34. This side is provided with a plurality of radially disposed notches and together with the tongue 42 forms a spring pawl and ratchet drive for turning wheel 34 in a clockwise direction only, as seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 6.

The wheel driving assembly is pivotally supported from an inverted U-shaped yoke 46 supported around the tubular member 2| and at 48 by a bolt from the top plate |2. From the bottom of the yoke 36, a stamped metal member 58 is pivotally mounted on a pin 5|. 'Ihis member comprises side pieces 52 and 53 separated by a transverse strip 54. One end of the member 58 is pivotally joined by a pin 56 to a member 51 having the same general shape and comprising spaced side pieces 58 and 58 rigidly maintained by an integral cross strip 60. Spaced pieces 58 and 59 are adapted to t against the inside surfaces of oscillatory yoke 38 and is pivotally joined thereto by a pin 63 at a rear portion 64 of said yoke.

The wheel driving assembly is spring biased so that normally the yoke 38 is in its extreme counterclockwise position, as seen in Fig. 3, with the member 58 in its lowest position. For this purpose a spring 66 is provided around the pin 5|, one end of the spring being anchored against the cross strip 54 and the other end being anchored against an ear 61 formed in inverted U-member 46.

The mechanism as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is in its locked position with the spring 66 wound up. To maintain this position, abutments 18 are formed on the edge of the yoke 38 at theV free ends thereof. A generally U-shaped detent member 1| having depending sides 12 and 13 joined by a cross piece 14 is pivotally mounted at one end by a pin on the yoke 46 above the pin 5|. It will be noted that the cross strip 14 is accommodated by a slot 16 cut out from the yoke 46 at the center thereof. 'I'he free ends 11 of the member 1| are pointed and are adapted to engage abutments 18 in the yoke 38. As long as this engagement is maintained, the entire wheel drive will be held in its wound position. A spring 88 is disposed around the pin 15 between opposing sides 12 and 13 and has its free ends pressing against the top of ear 61 and cross strip 14, respectively. Its tendency to uncoil keeps thefree ends 11 of the detent 1| in engagement with the abutments 18.

A knob 8| carried by the cross strip 14 projects through a suitable aperture in the plate |2 and is directly in front of sparking wheel 34.

By depressing the knob 8| to releasethe yoke 38, the spring driven leverage system will turn the wheel 34 in a counterclockwise direction. Sparks from the pyrophoric'material 22 will be thrown out just above the knob 8|. On the return or winding movement of the drive. the ratchet action on the side 43 of the wheel 34 will permit the wheel 34 to remain stationary.

The torch portion of the lighter comprises a suitably shaped handle 85 having a washer 86 and terminating in an elongated cylindrical portion 81. The bottom of the portion 81 has a pin 88 projecting through a mass of absorbent cotton 89 gripped by lingers 90. In the normal unused position of the torch, the bottom end is adapted to be pressed into a mass of absorbent cotton 8| soaked with inammable liquid and maintained in position by a sleeve 92 of metal or gauze.

The partition 1 carries a xed tubular sleeve 93 projecting upwardly therefrom through the compartment I8 and stopping just short of the top plate |2. A sleeve 95 having an outwardly flared bottom flange 86 is slidably disposed around iixed tubular sleeve .93. A ange 96 is adapted to engage the free arms 91 ofthe member 58.

` The sleeve 95 projects through an aperture in the plate |2 and is adapted to engage the washeri86 of the torch. By pressing the handle 85 firmly down, the arms 91 are depressed to wind up the spring 66 and cause the pivoted lever member 1| to catch the yoke 38'at the abutments 18. By withdrawing the torch and disposing it as shown in the dotted position in Fig. 2, the catch is released and sparks are generated and blown against the bottom 89 of the torch to ignite the same. The torch may be snuied by inserting it back in the case. It will be noted that the torch has an upper and lower rest position determined by the two positions of the sleeve 95.

After having once sprung the mechanism it is obvious that no further sparking action is ob-i able and may be incorporated in a large number,l

of different shapes and designs.

It is believed that my invention, its modeV of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variationwithin the purview -of my invention as defined in the appended claim. y

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: l

A pyrophoric lighter comprising a casing having a horizontal partition forming an upper and lower compartment therein, a top cover plate for said casing, a complete lighter assembly carried by said-top plate including a sparking wheel. drive therefor, a torch, anda pyrophoric element `bearing against said wheel, an elongated tube depending from*v said plate and enclosing said pyrophoric element, said tube passing ythrough both compartments and partition. to the bottom of the casing and having its bottom end threaded.

a nut co-operating with said threaded end at the bottom of the casing to. bolt said casing and top together, and means on saidtubevv co-operatlng with said partition to take up the tension on said tube to prevent buckling of said cover plate.

JACK GAL'IER. 

